The Just-Right Summer Beers

The ones you're always looking for when it's hot out but can never seem to find

The ones you're always looking for when it's hot out but can never seem to find. Plus: more of our favorite beers for summer.

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Anchor Summer Beer

Anchor Summer Beer

San Francisco's Anchor Brewing is best-known for its flagship Steam Beer. But during the warmer months, Anchor rolls out its classic Summer Beer, and has been doing so for nearly 30 years. More than half of its grain bill is malted wheat, which provides a fluffy head of foam and a light, dry mouthfeel.

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Baxter Celsius Summer Ale

Baxter Celsius Summer Ale

Additions of lime peel and lemongrass lend a tropical quality to the first seasonal release from Baxter Brewing Co. in Lewiston, Maine. Find it in cans around Maine and Massachusetts, where, according to Baxter's brewers, Celsius pairs especially well with lobster, clams, and oysters.

Anchor Summer Beer

San Francisco's Anchor Brewing is best-known for its flagship Steam Beer. But during the warmer months, Anchor rolls out its classic Summer Beer, and has been doing so for nearly 30 years. More than half of its grain bill is malted wheat, which provides a fluffy head of foam and a light, dry mouthfeel.

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Baxter Celsius Summer Ale

Additions of lime peel and lemongrass lend a tropical quality to the first seasonal release from Baxter Brewing Co. in Lewiston, Maine. Find it in cans around Maine and Massachusetts, where, according to Baxter's brewers, Celsius pairs especially well with lobster, clams, and oysters.

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Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale

Five varieties of whole-flower hops combine to give Twilight grassy, floral, and citrus flavors, and three types of malts balance them out. It's sessionable at 5 percent alcohol by volume (meaning you can drink several in one session). Not too hoppy, not too malty.

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Newcastle Summer Ale

This light golden ale is one of the latest limited-edition experimental brews from Heineken-owned Newcastle Brown Ale. Summer Ale has a low 4.4-percent ABV, and its earthy UK-bred hops and malts keep Newcastle's British tradition alive.

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Redhook Long Hammer IPA

An original West Coast IPA, Long Hammer has been a fixture of Washington's Redhook Brewery since 1984 (and is now available in cans for the first time). Just because you see the letters IPA doesn't mean you should expect hugely pungent and bitter hops. Consider Long Hammer more of an assertive pale ale, suitable for long-afternoon sipping.

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Samuel Adams Belgian Session

This is the beer that's going to keep me buying the Sam Adams Summer Styles variety pack all season long. It's low in alcohol but bold in flavor, delivering fruity and spicy Belgian esters, a pale-malt breadiness, and a smooth finish.

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Saranac Shandy

F.X. Matt Brewing Co. is releasing a new Saranac IPA and a blueberry beer in its summer variety pack, out this month. But its third new release, Saranac Shandy, stands alone in both packaging and flavor. The New York brewery is selling this mix of light lager and lemonade in its own six-packs and on draft. The best part? The Shandy is made with actual lemonade (you know: lemon juice, water, sugar) so the flavor is anything but artificial.

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Summit Summer Ale

Minnesota's Summit Brewing Co. takes a page from the Germans' playbook with this new take on a kolsch-style beer. Clear, clean, slightly floral, and gently hoppy, it'll be available starting Monday. You should get one then.